Name Samuel Ortom Role Philanthropist | ||
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Political party All Progressives Congress | ||
Governor samuel ortom a higher call
Chief Dr. Samuel Ioraer Ortom (born 23 April 1961, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria) is a Nigerian politician, farmer, businessman, and philanthropist. He was enrolled into the St. John's Primary School, Gboko, in 1970 but moved to St. Catherine's Primary School, Makurdi, in 1974, where he completed primary education in 1976. Mr. Ortom was admitted into Idah Secondary Commercial College, Idah, in Kogi State in 1976. He spent two years in the school before quitting in 1979 as his father's retirement that year, meant being unable to pay his school fees. According to Ortom, he had given his life to Jesus Christ before this happened and decided to start work at the Gboko motor park as a tout.
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It was in the park that he was taught how to drive by a stranger. Another helped him to obtain a driver's license, and soon after, he became employed as a professional driver. On recommendation, he became the driver and confidant of Gboko-based Christian leader and politician, Pa Samu Ihugh.
Education
Mr. Ortom obtained his General Certificate of Education as well as a Diploma in salesmanship from the National School of Salesmanship, Manchester. He enrolled at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and obtained both the Interim Joint Matriculation Board Certificate in 1995 and a diploma in journalism in 1998. He also attended the Benue State University, where he obtained the Advanced Diploma in Personnel Management in 2001 as well as a Master of Public Administration in 2004.
Political life
Mr. Ortom served different political parties in Benue State including the National Centre Party of Nigeria as State Publicity Secretary; State Treasurer of the All People's Party (APP); and State Secretary as well as State Deputy Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). He was also Director of Operations of the PDP gubernatorial campaign in Benue State in 2007 and Director of Administration and Logistics of the Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organization in 2011. He was PDP National Auditor before his appointment as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in July 2011.
In April 2015, he contested for Governor of Benue State and won under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
Work experience
Chief Dr. Ortom was proprietor and chairman of Oracle Business Limited, parent company of Goshen Water which produces bottled and sachet water; Oracle Oil Mills, Oracle Printing Press, as well as Oracle Farms Limited which handles mechanised farming and animal husbandry. He was also chairman of Capital Prints Limited which handles commercial printing, publishing and documentation, as well as chairman of Achieve Engineering Limited which is into civil and mechanical construction. Mr. Ortom was National President of the Independent Print-Media Publishers Association of Nigeria (IPPAN), and at the moment is the patron of the association.
He was appointed chairman of the governing council of the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON)
Philanthropy
Through the establishment of Oracle Business Limited Foundation, Ortom has set aside funds in St. Theresa's Hospital, Makurdi and Rahama Hospital, Gboko Road, Makurdi, for treatment of hernia and snakebites free of charge to the patients. The foundation has also reached out to prison inmates, preaching Christ as well as offering love and care while paying the fines of many who could not. Another outreach of his has been the Oracle Driving School, which turns out qualified drivers on a regular basis.